Department for Transport

High Speed 2 Line: Noise

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to reduce train noise that is measured independently during the initial operation and testing of trains on HS2 phase one, if it is found to be in excess of Environmental Minimal Requirements.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: To avoid a scenario where railway noise would lead to a non-compliance with the project’s Environmental Minimum Requirements, HS2 Ltd is developing integrated requirements, specifications and tests for each component of the railway that contributes to the end-state noise. As part of these integration activities, HS2 Ltd monitors planned performance against requirements and compliance against its noise commitments.HS2 Information Paper F4 explains the project’s framework for monitoring operational noise and vibration from the railway. This framework includes commitments to monitor the performance of noise and vibration control measures applied to the operational phase of the railway, and to share information with Local Authorities. Information Paper F4 includes a commitment to undertake corrective action, if necessary, to improve performance and prevent future loss of performance where required to achieve the project’s operational noise performance objectives (as set out in Information Papers E20, E21 and E22).The steps that would be taken if performance did not meet expectations would depend on the specific causes. However, in line with HS2 noise policy, all reasonable and practicable mitigation measures would be considered, with specific regard to acoustic performance, value for money, engineering practicability, impacts on other environmental disciplines and stakeholder engagement.

Freight: Northern Ireland

Lord Rogan: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks byBaroness Vere of Norbiton on 22 March (HL Deb col 906), how Eurotunnel and the expansion of services in the short straitsbetween Southern England and France will directly improve the urgent supply of (1) food, and (2) other items, to Northern Ireland via the Cairnryan to Larne sea route.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: My remarks referred to the Short Straits as an example of what is being done to provide sufficient capacity.Operators are endeavouring to run additional services across different routes, including the short straits and Cairnryan to Larne route, to absorb the demand created across affected P&O routes. For example, Stena are already running an additional vessel on the Cairnryan to Larne route.My Department is regularly engaging with all relevant operators, to maintain an up to date picture of demand management across sea routes into the UK and between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. I am aware that officials in Defra are regularly engaging with a wide range of food suppliers, to monitor the supply of food to the UK, including Northern Ireland. Officials across Government are conducting similar engagement with suppliers of other goods.

Police: Road Traffic Control

Lord Bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to publish the results of the Roads Policing Review:Call for Evidence, which closed on 5 October 2020.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The call for evidence saw 149 responses submitted, many of which were incredibly detailed. We will publish once we have given the responses our full consideration.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Sizewell B Power Station

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to grant a 20-year extension to the working life of the existing Sizewell B plant.

Lord Callanan: The continued operation of Sizewell B, or any UK nuclear power station, is a decision for the operator, EdF, and the independent nuclear regulator, the ONR, based on safety and commercial considerations. Sizewell B is currently scheduled to generate power until 2035 but is widely expected to extend its operation beyond this date. EdF is actively exploring long-term operations for Sizewell B.

Fossil Fuels

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether their policies of (1) fracking, (2) reducing fuel duty, and (3) coal extraction, are compliant with their commitments at the COP26 conference.

Lord Callanan: The COP26 Summit and the Glasgow Climate Pact demonstrated global agreement to accelerate action on climate change with over 90% of the world’s economy covered by net zero targets. Domestically, the Government has achieved a lot on its road to net zero already. Since 1990 the UK has almost halved its greenhouse gas emissions. Between 1990 and 2019, the economy has grown by 78% and emissions have been cut by 44%, decarbonising faster than any other G7 country. The Net Zero Strategy provides a policy framework that paves the way to meet the UK’s legislated Carbon Budgets and Nationally Determined Contribution, cutting emissions by at least 68% by 2030 on 1990 levels, and reaching net zero by 2050.

Galileo System

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect the Galileo PRS system to be fully operational.

Lord Callanan: The UK no longer receives information from the European Commission on the expected date by which the Galileo system and its different services will become fully operational.

Global Navigation Satellite Systems

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in the (1) design, and (2) implementation, of a UK Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) at Medium Earth Orbit which (a) delivers secure PNT signals, and (b) meets UK security requirements, as a result ofthe UK GNSS research programme; and whether the Space Based PNT Programme (SBPP) continued that work.

Lord Callanan: The SBPP has now reported on options for improving the resilience of space-based PNT services and Government is considering the findings to determine the next steps as part of the business planning process.The Government is committed to strengthening PNT resilience. Departments across Government are now looking at their resourcing for greater coordination of PNT requirements and risk appetite in relevant CNI sectors.Once appropriate mechanisms are established, the outputs from GNSS and SBPP will provide a solid foundation to take forward further PNT resilience work.

OneWeb

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what their fallback system is for OneWeb in the event that the GPS is disrupted by (1) an enemy, or (2) malicious entity; and what consideration they have given to a ground based system.

Lord Callanan: OneWeb’s first generation satellites were not designed with Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services in mind.

OneWeb: Satellites

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether OneWeb satellites held in Russia have been returned.

Lord Callanan: This is a commercially sensitive matter for OneWeb.

OneWeb: Satellites

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect the first full satellite constellation for OneWeb to be in orbit.

Lord Callanan: There will be a delay to the completion of OneWeb’s constellation due to the suspension of launches using Russian Soyuz launch vehicles in early March. However, OneWeb has made encouraging progress on alternative launch arrangements by securing an agreement to launch with SpaceX. Conversations are ongoing with alternative launch providers to complete launching the constellation.

OneWeb: Satellites

Lord Bowness: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Callanan on 25 January (HL5301), whether OneWeb is still using Russian facilities for its launches after Russia's invasion of Ukraine; and how much is paid (1) directly, or (2) indirectly, to Russian organisations in respect of each launch.

Lord Callanan: The Board of OneWeb voted on 3 March to suspend all launches from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. OneWeb’s launch service provider, Arianespace, announced on 4 March it was suspending the use of Russian Soyuz launch vehicles.Details of OneWeb’s launch agreements with Arianespace are commercially sensitive.

P&O Ferries: Dismissal and Redundancy

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the management of P&O Ferries regarding the requirement under retained EU law to hold consultations when implementing redundancy dismissals.

Lord Callanan: My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has written to the Insolvency Service asking them to urgently undertake a thorough review into the actions of P&O Ferries. This will include any scope to take action against the company’s directors. While I do not wish to prejudge the outcome, and it is important due process is followed, we will not hesitate to take further action if appropriate to do so.

Northern Ireland Office

Terrorism: Northern Ireland

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent discussionsthey have had with political parties in Northern Ireland on measures to deal with the past and its legacy in Northern Ireland.

Lord Caine: Since the Government published the Command Paper, ‘Addressing the Legacy of Northern Ireland’s Past’, in July 2021, we have engaged with interested parties, groups and individuals across Northern Ireland, Great Britain and Ireland on our proposals. This includes the Northern Ireland parties, representatives from the victims sector, veterans, individuals and organisations from across civil society and the Irish Government. We have heard many different views through this engagement, including how the proposals might be changed, amended or improved. This has been extremely valuable, and the perspectives we have heard will help inform our next steps, which we are considering carefully.

Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: Prescription Drugs

Baroness Rawlings: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the use of (a) molnupiravir, and (b) Paxlovid, as antiviral treatments for COVID-19 inother countries, and (2) the rules for administering such treatments, when considering how to administer and distribute those treatments in England.

Lord Kamall: Molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir + ritonavir (co-packaged as Paxlovid) are available for the treatment of COVID-19 in multiple countries. The Antivirals and Therapeutics Taskforce is engaging with international organisations and nations to share learning on the use and deployment of therapeutics and antivirals, including molnupiravir and Paxlovid.Eligibility for oral antivirals has been determined by an independent expert group commissioned by the Department and included in a clinical policy agreed by the United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers. This policy is based on evidence that individuals with specific health conditions are more likely to progress to severe disease. In the community, eligible patients have access to oral antivirals through COVID Medicines Delivery Units in England, with equivalent arrangements in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In addition, Paxlovid is available to eligible patients who contract COVID-19 whilst in hospital. We are continuing to monitor international use and administration of these treatments to inform the clinical policy.

Coronavirus: Prescription Drugs

Baroness Rawlings: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Kamall on 28 March (HL7225), why decisions on the deployment of antiviral treatments for COVID-19 for people beyond the highest risk groups are tied to the outcomes of the PANORAMIC study; and when they expect such decisions to be made.

Lord Kamall: We are ensuring that deployment of antiviral treatments is supported by comprehensive data on clinical and cost-effectiveness to ensure healthcare professionals and patients have full confidence in prescribing and receiving these treatments.The PANORAMIC study was established following a recommendation from an expert clinical panel. The expert panel advised that additional information should be gathered on which patients would benefit most from antiviral treatments in the United Kingdom, given high rates of vaccination. Previous trials have predominantly used unvaccinated participants.Results for the first antiviral treatment, molnupiravir, are likely to be available in summer 2022, when a decision on clinical access will be made by an expert panel. The second antiviral treatment, Paxlovid, is expected to enter the PANORAMIC study in April 2022.

Coronavirus: Prescription Drugs

Baroness Rawlings: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Kamall on 24 March (HL7023), why antiviral treatments for COVID-19 are not commercially available; and what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of such treatments.

Lord Kamall: The pharmaceutical companies producing antivirals have not made these treatments commercially available to the private health care sector in the United Kingdom. The supply of the COVID-19 oral antiviral treatments approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is commercially available to the Government for National Health Service patients and the devolved administrations. Pharmaceutical companies are responsible for the commercial decisions on the availability of their products.The Merk Sharp and Dohme clinical trial of molnupiravir showed that the drug reduces the relative risk of hospitalisation or death by 30%. Pfizer’s trial of nirmatrelvir+ritonavir showed an 89% reduction in hospitalisation or death compared to a placebo. The PANORAMIC national study will inform our understanding on how oral antiviral treatments perform in the UK, where the majority of the population is vaccinated. This will inform future decisions on access for patients in the UK.

Diabetes: Health Education

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to inform the public about the consequences of rising diabetes levels.

Lord Kamall: Obesity is the single greatest risk factor to developing type 2 diabetes, which can lead to associated conditions such as diabetic foot ulcers and diabetic retinopathy. The Better Health adult obesity campaign was launched in July 2020, highlighting the harms of excess weight and providing motivation to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.  The campaign directs the public to a range of free online tools and support, including the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, the National Health Service weight loss plan app, local authority healthy lifestyle services and discounted offers from healthy weight partners. Primary care providers also support individuals in accessing weight management programmes, including the Diabetes Prevention Programme, depending on their risk factors.

Autism: Research

Baroness Parminter: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to publish their plan for autism research, as outlined in the National strategy for autistic children, young people and adults, published on 22 July 2021.

Lord Kamall: We plan to publish the Autism Research Action Plan in summer 2022.

Autism: Health Services

Baroness Parminter: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the feasibility of a 'stepped care' system for autistic people to identify and address new support needs in a timely manner.

Lord Kamall: No specific assessment has been made. However, in 2019 the public call for evidence to inform the development of the autism strategy sought views on autistic people’s access to post-diagnosis support as an element of a stepped care system. This found that 34% of autistic respondents and 46% of carer respondents said they did not receive support after diagnosis. In 2021/22, we provided £31 million to improve community services for autistic people and people with a learning disability services. This included £7 million to test and implement timely, quality autism diagnosis and post-diagnosis pathways. Additionally, we are investing £69 million in 2022/2023 to prevent avoidable admissions and improve community support for autistic people and people with a learning disability.

Coronavirus: Screening

Baroness Masham of Ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether COVID-19 tests will remain (1) free, and (2) accessible, for (a) all immunocompromised people, (b) their households, and (c) close contacts, from 1 April, for those who are either (i) symptomatic, or (ii) asymptomatic.

Lord Kamall: From 1 April, free access to asymptomatic and symptomatic tests for the public in England will end. The Government will continue to provide free symptomatic testing for patients in hospital, for whom a test is required for clinical management or to support treatment pathways and those eligible for COVID-19 treatments due to their higher risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19.Patients in this higher risk cohort will be contacted directly and sent lateral flow device tests for symptomatic testing and guidance on how to reorder tests. Asymptomatic lateral flow device testing will continue in some high-risk settings where infection can spread rapidly while prevalence is high.

Coronavirus: Public Health

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the devolved administrations on public health measures related to COVID-19; and what plans they have to publish the minutes of such discussions.

Lord Kamall: The Government has regular discussions with the devolved administrations on public health measures related to COVID-19. The UK Health Security Agency and other Government Departments work to ensure a coordinated approach. We are unable to provide the minutes of specific discussions as it relates to the development of Government policy. The Department will continue to publish information online on its engagement with the devolved administrations through the Government’s quarterly reports on inter-governmental relations in line with transparency commitments.

Health Services: CCTV

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use by NHS Trusts of Chinese-made surveillance cameras made by companies currently subject to US sanctions and investment bans.

Lord Kamall: This information is not collected by the Department therefore no such assessment has been made.

Department for Education

Languages: GCE A-level and GCSE

Baroness Coussins: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reduction in the numbers of pupils taking (1) GCSE, and (2) A Level, examinations in (a) community, or (b) heritage, languages not taught in mainstream state schools as a result of the delayed grant from the Department for Education to the Community Language Examination Centre (CLEx).

Baroness Coussins: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether an equality impact assessment was made before delaying the grant to CLEx about the impact on black, Asian, and minority ethnic language learners' access to national accreditation at (a) GCSE, and (b) A Level.

Baroness Coussins: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the importance to the UK's (1) economic, and (2) diplomatic, interests of encouraging school students to learn and gain accreditation in (a) Arabic, (b) Mandarin, (c) Russian, (d) Turkish, and (e) Urdu.

Baroness Barran: The government understands the importance of all languages for the UK’s economic and diplomatic interests, as well as the many personal and social benefits learning another language can bring. This is why the study of languages is a statutory part of the national curriculum for pupils in key stages 2 and 3.French, Spanish and German remain the most popular languages for pupils to study at school. The government provides resources and professional development for teachers in these languages through the Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) Hub programme, run by the National Centre for Excellence in Language Pedagogy.An increasing number of pupils now choose to study Mandarin, and the government supports many of these pupils through the £12 million Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP). The MEP is the department’s flagship programme for the study of Mandarin, with the aim of providing a pipeline of fluent Mandarin speakers to meet the UK’s future economic and diplomatic needs. We are currently considering what steps might be taken to provide greater support for the study of other languages, including Arabic and Urdu.Schools are free to offer any language which they feel best meets the needs of their pupils and the wider community. GCSEs and A levels are available in Arabic, Mandarin, Russian, Turkish and Urdu. All these languages count towards the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) school performance measure, ensuring that most young people study a core of academic subjects at GCSE. The provision of these qualifications is ultimately a decision for awarding organisations. However, the department is supportive of ongoing opportunities to study these languages, signifying Britain's role as an outward-facing, vibrant country, enriched by the diversity of its people.Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and unique circumstances in 2021, the government made a grant available to support exam centres to meet costs associated with the additional demands of assessment for private candidates, including those taking community and heritage languages. The claims window opened on 29 November 2021 and closed on 10 January 2022. The department subsequently carried out quality assurance checks on the evidence provided by centres to ensure the accuracy of claims and payment allocations. The assurance checks that needed to be carried out always meant that payments would be made to centres at the end of the 2021/22 financial year. Centres that supplied the evidence required in the claims were due to be paid on 31 March 2022. This included a payment to the Community Language Examination Centre.The grant was only available for teacher assessed grades produced in summer 2021, not to any other assessment period, due to the unique circumstances in 2021. It has helped centres to meet costs and will not have led to any exam entry reductions.

Refugees: Ukraine

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take toensure that adequate provisions are made to protect Ukrainian (1) orphans, and (2) unaccompanied children, who come to the UK.

Baroness Barran: The department is committed to supporting those fleeing from Ukraine.It is generally in the best interests of a child to be reunited with family members when possible. The Ukrainian government has also been clear that children should not be taken into care without their agreement.The department takes the welfare of all unaccompanied children extremely seriously and is committed to ensuring they are properly safeguarded. Statutory duties placed on the local authority in respect of unaccompanied children will apply to any unaccompanied or orphaned Ukrainian children arriving in the UK.In England, section 17 of the Children Act 1989 imposes a general duty on local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in need in their area, and to accommodate them if they meet the relevant criteria.Generally, once a child has been accommodated by a local authority continuously for more than 24 hours, they become a looked after child and should be safeguarded. Their welfare should be promoted in the same way as any other looked after child, taking account of their particular needs.

Ministry of Justice

Prison Sentences

Lord Moylan: To ask Her Majesty's Government how manyprisonerssubject toImprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentencesin England and Wales were progressed to open conditions but subsequently returned to closed conditions in each year since 2017.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: YearNumber of transfers of IPP prisoners from predominant function ‘Open’ to predominant function ‘Closed’ prisons2017235201820520191592020116 Note: These figures exclude those recalled from IPP sentences.Data sources and qualityThe figures in this table have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.Almost invariably, an IPP prisoner will be approved for open conditions only in response to a positive recommendation from the Parole Board. Recently, the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Justice announced that there would be greater ministerial scrutiny of the moves of indeterminate sentence prisoners to open conditions. A prisoner in open conditions will be returned to closed conditions in response to poor behaviour or evidence of increased risk.

Prisoners: Rehabilitation

Lord Garnier: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prisoners in England and Wales subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences have (1) started, and (2) completed, accredited offending behaviour programmes in each year since 2017.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: National data on all prisoner enrolments (starts) and completions in prison-delivered accredited Offending Behaviour Programmes (OBPs) are collected and published annually and published as part of the HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Annual Digest, but this does not provide further break-down by sentence type. The table attached provides the number of indeterminate sentenced prisoners serving an Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence who enrolled on and completed accredited OBPs, in each financial year since 2017. Changes to accredited programme delivery were implemented in response to the threat of COVID-19, with programmes affected throughout 2020/21. This resulted in far fewer starts and completions compared with those in previous years. During the period covered the numbers serving an Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence also fell.Whilst the number of places available has decreased, IPP prisoners have remained a priority for spaces. The Government’s primary responsibility is to protect the public. Accredited programmes aim to protect the public and reduce reoffending and are part of a range of rehabilitation and risk reduction opportunities available. HMPPS remains committed to supporting the progression of those serving IPP sentences in custody, so that the Parole Board may direct their release, or as the case may be, re-release, as soon as it is safe to do so. Table (xlsx, 44.7KB)

Prison Sentences

Lord Moylan: To ask Her Majesty's Government how manyprisoners in England and Wales subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences have been (1) received into, and (2) released from, progression regimes in each year since 2017.

Lord Moylan: To ask Her Majesty's Government how manyplaces were available in progression regimes for prisoners subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences in England and Wales in each year since 2017, broken down by establishment.

Lord Moylan: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prisonerssubject toImprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentenceshave been reviewed by Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service psychology services in each year since 2017.

Lord Moylan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in identifying gaps in the provision of learning, training and progressionopportunities for women prisoners subject toImprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences, further to theJoint IPP Action Planby Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and Parole Board, published in June 2019.

Lord Moylan: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prisoners subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences have had two or more post tariff parole reviews with no progression to (1) open conditions, or (2) release, in each year since 2017.

Lord Moylan: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prisoners subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences have been referred into the offender personality disorder pathway in each year since 2017.

Lord Moylan: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prisoners subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentenceshave been referred into the offender personality disorder pathway broken down by protected characteristics in each year since 2017.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: The IPP Action Plan is regularly reviewed to ensure that it is responsive to the needs of those serving IPP sentences, whether in prison or in the community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, and in accordance with measures mandated in the interests of public health, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) implemented exceptional delivery models which inevitably had some impact on all operational work. A large number of IPP prisoners have been released each year since the IPP Action Plan was first introduced in 2016, and the Plan will be refreshed, reviewed and republished after careful consideration of the forthcoming Justice Select Committee’s Report and recommendations.HL7157 & HL7158:HMPPS operate four Progression Regimes in closed, adult male category C prisons which provide opportunities for parole-eligible prisoners who are not making anticipated progress, and particularly prioritise places for those serving an IPP sentence. The first Progression Regime opened at HMP Warren Hill in December 2014. Following the success of the Regime at HMP Warren Hill, a further three Progression Regimes were opened in 2018 at HMP The Humber, Erlestoke and Buckley Hall.The following table shows the number of prisoners in England and Wales subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences that have been (1) received into, and (2) released from, Progression Regimes in each year since 2017.YearReceived onto a Progression RegimesRelease from a Progression Regime201780472018*124302019119432020924320218044* Progression Regimes opened at HMPs Erlestoke, Humber and Buckley Hall. These data have been drawn from local spreadsheets and databases held by the Progression Regimes, as national data systems can only capture movement for a whole prison, rather than individual units within a prison. As with any large scale recording systems, the figures are subject to possible errors with data migration and processing.The total capacity of the Progression Regimes was 202 in 2017, with only the Progression Regime at HMP Warren Hill operational at that time. This number rose to 350 spaces (202 in HMP Warren Hill, 40 in HMP Erlestoke, 48 in HMP Humber and 60 in HMP Buckley Hall) with the opening of the three additional Progression Regime sites by the end of 2018. In 2019 a further 40 places were opened in HMP Erlestoke, however last year one of their Progression Regime units closed, affecting their number of places. This unit is being replaced with a new one later this year.HL7160:Psychology reviews for IPP prisoners commenced in 2016 and targeted those serving IPP sentences where no progress had been made to either open conditions or release despite 2 or more post tariff parole reviews. In 2019, the cohort was widened to incorporate IPP prisoners with tariffs of fewerless than 2 years. In 2021, the cohort was again expanded to include all those 5 or more years post tariff irrespective of whether they had been to open prison previously, those serving IPP sentences for non-sexual and non-violent offences, and those serving IPP sentences for robbery.The following table shows the number of IPP psychology reviews completed for eligible IPP prisoners, as described above, each year since 2016. The high figure in 2016 reflects the fact that a large proportion of those eligible had their reviews in the first year the central reviews were introduced:YearReviews completed 201687320172092018225201915920201072021212 HL7161:HMPPS Women’s Estate Psychology Services have implemented an indeterminate sentence prisoners strategy which includes the IPP cohort. The overarching goal of the strategy is to ensure that all are supported to progress through their prison sentences as quickly as possible. Psychologists regularly review cases and work with prison and probation colleagues to remove barriers to progression and expedite completion of interventions and services.HL7216:The following table shows the number of prisoners subject to IPP sentences that have had two or more post-tariff parole reviews with no progression to (1) open conditions, or (2) release, in each year since 2017:Snapshot DateTotal number of IPP prisoners with two or more “no release” decisions in their latest two reviews (up to the snapshot date)*31-Dec-171,17331-Dec-181,02831-Dec-1994331-Dec-2088731-Dec-21874*Caveats:1. The figures in these tables have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.2. These figures include both the recalled and unreleased IPP populations. HL7217 & HL7218:The following data are produced from service provider returns and, whilst quality assured, are subject to reporter error. As of 31 December 2021 there were 4,869 people with IPP sentences who had been identified as meeting the screening criteria for the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway. OPD pathway screening is an administrative activity which does not necessarily mean someone needs a specific intervention to address a personality disorder. Such a need would be identified when the prisoner’s probation officer reviews the prisoner’s sentence plan to take account of the OPD pathway screening.Of those identified as meeting the screening criteria, 2,780 are currently in custody (with 1,200 of these in custody on recall).From 1st January 2017 to 31st December 2021, a total of 1,892 offenders serving IPP sentences have been referred to OPD Services as follows:Year of referralNo of IPP Referrals20171772018221201935820205172021619Total (2017-2021)1892To note: in the breakdown of protected characteristics below, some categories have been merged where necessary to avoid the risk of identifying individual offenders.By Age:Year of referral18-2930-3940-4950-5960+Total20171172533381772018794664410221201917159996122358202019238150862451720212227618410136619Total768395523251001892 By Ethnicity:Year of referralAsian: Asian BritishBlack: Black BritishMixed/ Multiple Ethnic GroupsOther / Not StatedWhiteTotal201781870144177201841817018222120191541612953582020145724042251720211263327505619Total5319786815481892 By Sex:Year of referralFemaleMaleUnspecifiedTotal 201731740177201872140221201911347035820202749005172021395773619Total87180231892

Parole

Lord Blunkett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish advice given by the Parole Board to Parole Board members to increase their confidence in taking Imprisonment for Public Protection release decisions since June 2019.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: Since June 2019, the Parole Board issued the following guidance to support their members in making decisions in all type of cases, including Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP):The parole board decision making framework (Oct 2019); The types of cases guidance (Aug 2021);The guidance on member case assessment (Aug 2021); and,Guidance on oral hearings (Jan 2022). These guidelines explain the different types of sentence and cases which Parole Board members may come across. They provide details of the possible Parole Board decision outcomes. Member guidelines are available on the Parole Board’s website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/parole-board.

Sexual Offences: Sentencing

Lord Garnier: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in establishing a progression unit for prisonerssubject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences with a sexual offence, further to the Joint IPP Action Planpublished by Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and the Parole Board in June 2019.

Lord Garnier: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made to ensure that contracted sites are compliant with national strategies for management and progression of prisoners subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences, further to theJoint IPP Action Plan, published by Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and the Parole Board in June 2019.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: The IPP Action Plan is regularly reviewed to ensure that it is responsive to the needs of those serving IPP sentences, whether in prison or in the community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, and in accordance with measures mandated in the interests of public health, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) implemented exceptional delivery models which inevitably had some impact on all operational work. A large number of IPP prisoners have been released each year since the IPP Action Plan first introduced in 2016, and the Plan will be refreshed, reviewed and republished after careful consideration of the forthcoming Justice Select Committee’s Report and recommendations.A progression unit for prisoners serving IPP sentences with a conviction for a sexual offence has been open at HMP Littlehey for the last three years. The unit provides an environment where prisoners feel safe and receive support to focus on their progression. As with the other workstreams within the IPP action plan, HMPPS will review the progress of the unit this year, which will also take account of any relevant aspects of the report and recommendations of the Justice Select Committee.HMPPS continue to engage with senior managers in prisons run under contract, to ensure that the IPP Action Plan initiatives are reflected in their delivery plans. For example, each contracted site has an IPP single point of contact for Psychology Services.

Prisoners: Rehabilitation

Lord Garnier: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the average number of additional offending behaviour programmes that prisoners subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences in England and Wales were directed to complete (1) once the initial sentence plan was completed, and (2) post recall, in each year since 2017.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: The requested information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The Government’s primary responsibility is to protect the public. Accredited programmes aim to protect the public and reduce reoffending and are part of a range of rehabilitation and risk reduction opportunities available. HM Prison and Probation Service remains committed to supporting the progression of those serving IPP sentences in custody, so that the Parole Board may direct their release, or as the case may be, re-release, as soon as it is safe to do so.

Prisoners: Rehabilitation

Lord Garnier: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the average number of accredited offending behaviour programmes completed by prisonerssubject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences in England and Wales before being (1) transferred to open conditions, and (2) released, in each year since 2017.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: National data on all prisoner enrolments (starts) and completions in prison-delivered accredited offending behaviour programmes (OBPs) are collected and published annually and published as part of HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Annual Digest, but this does not provide further break-down by progression through the estate or by sentence type. The table attached provides the average number of accredited offending behaviour programmes completed by prisoners subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences prior to being transferred to open conditions, and ahead of release, in each financial year since 2017. No transfers to open conditions in 2020/21 involved individuals who had completed an accredited programme, hence no number is recorded. The Government’s primary responsibility is to protect the public. Accredited programmes aim to protect the public and reduce reoffending and are part of a range of rehabilitation and risk reduction opportunities available. HMPPS remains committed to supporting the progression of those serving IPP sentences in custody, so that the Parole Board may direct their release, or as the case may be, re-release, as soon as it is safe to do so.HL7134_table (xlsx, 44.3KB)

Prisoners: Rehabilitation

Lord Garnier: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prisoners subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences in England and Wales have been on a waiting list to begin an accredited offending behaviour programme in each year since 2017.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: We do not hold data on the numbers of prisoners with sentences of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) on a waiting list to begin an accredited offending behaviour programme (OBP) prior to late 2020. New data collection systems were established in response to the pandemic to aid future recovery planning for OBPs. This table below shows the number of IPP prisoners waiting to commence an accredited general or sexual offending programme based on information gathered from prisons which run the courses. The information has been drawn from local records and, as with any large-scale reporting tool, may be subject to inaccuracies as well as subject to change. The Government’s primary responsibility is to protect the public. Accredited programmes aim to protect the public and reduce reoffending and are part of a range of rehabilitation and risk reduction opportunities available. HM Prison and Probation Service remains committed to supporting the progression of those serving IPP sentences in custody, so that the Parole Board may direct their release, or as the case may be, re-release, as soon as it is safe to do so. DateTotalTotal December 2020116Total April 2021161Total August 2021158Total October 2021103Total December 2021113Total February 2022109

Prison Sentences

Baroness Burt of Solihull: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in establishing an active case management approach in public protection casework, further to the Joint IPP Action Plan published by Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and the Parole Board in June 2019.

Baroness Burt of Solihull: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to publish the East of England developed standards for working with prisoners subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences that are referenced in the Joint IPP Action Plan published by Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and Parole Board in June 2019.

Baroness Burt of Solihull: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in establishing (1) an estate-wide set of non-mandatory best practice standards in prisons in England and Wales, and (2) best practice probation standards, further to the Joint IPP Action Plan publishedby Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and Parole Board in June 2019.

Baroness Burt of Solihull: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in increasing access to electronic monitoring for the release of prisoners subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences, further to theJoint IPP Action Planpublishedby Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and Parole Board in June 2019.

Baroness Burt of Solihull: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress the National Probation Service has made in delivering improvements to the operational oversight of prisoners subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences,further to theJoint IPP Action Planpublishedby Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and Parole Board in June 2019.

Baroness Burt of Solihull: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many progression panels have been established in each National Probation Service division in each year since June 2019.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: The IPP Action Plan is regularly reviewed to ensure that it is responsive to the needs of those serving IPP sentences, whether in prison or in the community. A large number of IPP prisoners have been released each year since the IPP Action Plan was first introduced in 2016, and the Plan will be refreshed, reviewed and republished after careful consideration of the forthcoming Justice Select Committee’s Report and recommendations. The Public Protection Casework Section in HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) HQ has implemented active case management, which is directed towards ensuring that probation and prison staff comply with directions from Parole Board Panels in a timely fashion. Best practice ideals, based on an initiative that started in prisons in the East of England Region, were developed and rolled out for use in a number of prisons prior to the pandemic. The roll out was then unavoidably disrupted by the exceptional delivery models which had to be implemented on the grounds of public health. Progress of the best practice ideals will be reviewed as part of the wider action plan following consideration of the Justice Select Committee’s report and recommendations. Offenders subject to IPP sentences are eligible for electronic monitoring following release on licence, where considered necessary and proportionate by the Parole Board. The additional investment of £183m in the expansion of electronic monitoring will also increase the availability of electronic monitoring for IPP offenders. Those whose risk is linked to alcohol are eligible for alcohol monitoring on licence, which was introduced in Wales in November and will be rolled out to England this summer. IPP releases will also be eligible for a project targeting high-risk domestic abuse perpetrators, where they will have their whereabouts monitored using GPS tags to protect victims, and potential future victims, from further trauma. The project will begin in 2023 and we expect to tag around 3,500 offenders. HM Prison and Probation Service has developed a dataset and data dashboard, which is shared on a quarterly basis with Probation Regions and Prison Groups to support them in their efforts to monitor and manage their IPP populations, both in prisons and the community. The dashboard is still evolving and kept under review, as we identify new ways to capture additional key management information and present it in such a way as to be the most helpful to the operational line. The following table shows the number of IPP progression panels that have taken place in each Probation region by year since June 2019*: During the COVID-19 pandemic, and in accordance with measures mandated in the interests of public health, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) implemented exceptional delivery models which inevitably had some impact on all operational work. Probation RegionThe number of IPP progression panels held by year 01/06/2019 to 31/12/20192020202101/01/2022 to 22/03/2022TotalEast Midlands Region11446624123844East of England2247155541071,600Greater Manchester294472291361,093Kent Surrey Sussex Region129529426791,163London2365516291341,550National Security Division-#4#9North East Region11742319633769North West Region298710447851,540South Central15627132879834South West111469197137914Wales17419715016537West Midlands Region3048685221261,820Yorkshire and The Humber170635422721,299Unknown Region3#-#16Total2,3306,3224,40792913,988*Caveats:1. # - A value less than 3, or a value suppressed to prevent the disclosure of a value less than 3.2. This data is from the Probation Case Management System, National Delius. While data accuracy has been assured as far as practical, as with any large administrative data source the likelihood of some errors cannot be eliminated.3. Panels without a recorded outcome (from the point that an outcome was required to be recorded) were assumed to not have taken place.4. Due to probation restructures in 2020 and 2021, a small number of panels could not be assigned to a region. These are recorded as 'Unknown Region'.

Prison Sentences

Lord Blunkett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress the National Probation Service has made towards developing a package of learning for newly qualified officers on managing Imprisonment for Public Protection offenders since the publication of the Joint IPP Action Plan, published by Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and the Parole Boardin June 2019.

Lord Blunkett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress the National Probation Service has made towards delivering a strategy to develop skills of all (1) practitioners, and (2) operational line managers, to manage Imprisonment for Public Protection cases since the publication of the Joint IPP Action Plan, published by Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and the Parole Boardin June 2019.

Lord Blunkett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support is available to (1) Imprisonment for Public Protection prisoners to address the mental health impact of their sentence, and (2) individuals serving an Imprisonment for Public Protection on licence in the community to prevent unnecessary recalls.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: The IPP Action Plan is regularly reviewed to ensure that it is responsive to the needs of those serving IPP sentences, whether in prison andor in the community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, and in accordance with measures mandated in the interests of public health, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) implemented exceptional delivery models which inevitably had some impact on all operational work. A large number of IPP prisoners have been released each year since the IPP Action Plan first introduced in 2016, and the Plan will be refreshed, reviewed and republished after careful consideration of the forthcoming Justice Select Committee’s Report and recommendations. There have been four new E-learning modules introduced for the use of probation practitioners which cover different aspects of supporting offenders serving indeterminate sentences; three of the modules cover work with those serving IPP sentences specifically, whilst the fourth is about actions at the point of sentencing for life sentences.The three packages cover progression through the sentence, taking into account individual need, the processes during the pre-release phase, and how to manage indeterminate sentenced offenders once they are released into the community.These packages, available now, will also form part of the Continuous Professional Development packs currently being created by the Probation Service for operational staff. We take mental health very seriously and recognise that providing the right interventions at the right time is vital to improve outcomes for people with mental health needs, including IPP offenders.HMPPS is mindful that IPP prisoners do not have a definite release date and, on that account, provides each IPP prisoner with a key worker, as well as a qualified probation officer, to explain what they need to do to reduce their risk and to help them access the support services they need.Health and justice partners have committed to providing a standard of health care in prisons equivalent to that available in the community. Through the National Partnership Agreement, health and justice partners are working closely to improve support and continuity of care when someone leaves prison. HMPPS continues to work with National Health Service England (NSHE) to develop RECONNECT, a care after custody service which supports vulnerable prison leavers in their transition to community-based health services.The power to recall an offender to custody is a vital public protection measure when it comes to supervising any offender on licence. We have no evidence that probation officers are recalling IPP offenders to custody where they do not have compelling reason to do so. The HM Inspectorate of Probation Report – ‘A thematic review of probation recall culture and practice’ – published in 2020, found that the Probation Service is using recall appropriately, to prevent further serious offending and protect the public.Probation officers explore other risk management steps to secure compliance and manage risk before requesting a recall. What might appear to be a relatively minor breach of a licence condition might, where the associated behaviour is similar to the behaviour when the offender committed the offence which attracted the IPP sentence, indicate that the offender needs to be recalled to protect the public.

Parole

Lord Blunkett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the rate of (1) deferral, and (2) adjournments, of cases by the Parole Board broken down by local region in each year since 2017.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: The Parole Board has confirmed the breakdown of Deferral and Adjournment rates for oral hearings since 2017 in the table below. The Parole Board will publish data for 2021/22 in their 2021/22 Annual Report. The Parole Board reports on national rates and does not produce this data by regions.  Conducted HearingsCompleted Oral HearingsDeferred & Adjourned HearingsDeferred SplitAdjourned Split2017-18813756382499(*31%)744(*9.1%)1755(*21.5%)2018-19790353802523(*32%)488(*6.1%)2035(*25.7%)2019-20826452942970(*36%)271(*3.3%)2699(*32.7%)2020-21920264212781(*30%)167(*1.8%)2614(*28.4%)*Percentage of conducted oral hearings

Marriage: Humanism

Lord Strasburger: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the risk of introducinginconsistencies into the law around marriage if humanist marriages are legislated for before the Law Commission's review in this area has concluded.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: In 2014, the Government published a consultation paper and response assessing the potential merits of provision for non-religious belief marriages. This concluded that the matter was complex, and that by allowing Humanists to solemnise marriages in unrestricted locations, the Government would create a provision for Humanists that would not be available to all groups. To ensure we are considering the implications of changing the law on marriage on all groups, we invited the Law Commission to undertake a review which is currently underway and is expected to report in July of this year. By looking at the law comprehensively, the Law Commission will seek to put forward proposals that would ensure that, insofar as possible, groups and couples are all subject to the same rules and the same level of regulation. That reform is not possible by only authorising Humanist weddings, even on a temporary basis pending the Law Commission report. The Government will carefully consider the Law Commission’s recommendations when the final report is published in July, and it is right for us to wait for the outcome of the report before amending marriage law any further.

Prison Sentences

Lord Blunkett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress the National Probation Service has made towards freeing capacity to hear more Imprisonment for Public Protection release decision cases since the publication of the Joint IPP Action Plan, published by Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and the Parole Boardin June 2019.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: Over the last two years, the Parole Board has adapted its operating model to increase its hearing capacity through the use of technology and via intensive paper reviews which led to a record 9202 oral hearings conducted in 2020/21, 938 more than in 2019/20. In 2020/21 the Parole Board completed a total 1566 oral hearings (reviews and recalls) for prisoners serving IPP sentences. This was a 3% increase from 2019/20.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Musicians: EU Countries

The Earl of Clancarty: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, ofthe Churchill Lecture delivered by Lord Frost at the University of Zurich on 15 March; and in particular, his suggestion that "we should take another look at mobility issues" affecting the UK and the EU.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The Government has fulfilled its commitment to the British public to take back control of our borders and introduce a single global immigration system. We have clarified mobility arrangements under the new system when concerns have been raised, including in the case of musicians travelling between the UK and EU. On youth mobility, we remain open to negotiating reciprocal Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) arrangements with other countries and territories, including the EU or nations within it. The UK has 10 successful youth mobility schemes and we are looking to agree more.

Sub-Saharan Africa: Humanitarian Situation

Lord Spencer of Alresford: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact the Russian invasion of Ukraine on food poverty and the humanitarian crises in Sub-Saharan Africa; and what steps they plan to take to support that region as a result.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The devastation being caused in Ukraine has implications globally. This is seen in the rising prices of staple foods at a time when there is already food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa exacerbated by conflict, climate shocks and the economic impact of Covid-19. The FCDO will continue to encourage open trade to facilitate the movement of food and prioritise humanitarian assistance in particular, to prevent famine. The UK is currently the fourth largest humanitarian donor in Sub-Saharan Africa and we have demonstrated our commitment to tackling food insecurity through a Call to Action on Famine Prevention and brokering a Compact through our G7 Presidency. These include a commitment to mobilise humanitarian funding and a diplomatic focus on the most severe crises - the majority of which are in Africa. We will continue to work with G7 partners to mitigate the risk of an extended global food price crisis and to maintain food security.

National Bank of the Republic of Belarus: Sanctions

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to prohibit UK persons from undertaking financial transactions involvingthe Central Bank of Belarus.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We stand united with international partners in condemning the Belarusian Government for facilitating Russia's unlawful invasion of Ukraine from within its borders. Our intention is to extend recent Russia sanctions to Belarus. The Lukashenko regime will be made to feel the economic consequences for its support for Putin.

Russia: War Crimes

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that an art school in Ukraine, sheltering 400 people has been destroyed by Russian forces; and what progressthey have made in discussions with the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Courtfor ensuring that such reports and available evidence will be considered by that body in pursuit of prosecutions.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Russia's use of indiscriminate force against innocent civilians is clear. It must be investigated and those responsible held to account.That is why the UK led efforts to refer the situation in Ukraine to the International Criminal Court (ICC). We welcome the decision of the ICC Prosecutor to open an investigation. We stand ready to provide the necessary technical assistance to the ICC to support successful convictions.

Myanmar: Rohingya

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of thegovernment of the United States'determination thatMyanmar's military has committed genocide against the Rohingya; what plans, if any, they have tomake a similar determination; and if they have no such plans, why not.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: It remains UK Government policy that any judgement on whether genocide or crimes against humanity have occurred is a matter for a competent national or international court or tribunal, after consideration of all the available evidence, rather than for governments or non-judicial bodies. We welcome the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) consideration of this issue, where there is an ongoing case brought by The Gambia against Myanmar for its alleged breach of the Genocide Convention. The UK supports the ICJ process which is putting pressure on Myanmar to protect the Rohingya. We provided funding to enable Rohingya refugees to attend the ICJ hearing in December 2019.The Rohingya crisis remains a UK priority. We continue to support the humanitarian responses on both sides of the border. In Rakhine state the UK has provided over £81 million to all communities since 2017, including over £25 million for the Rohingya and other Muslim minorities for support such as nutrition and health.

Ukraine: Abduction and Deportation

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that mass deportations and abductions from Mariupol are taking place to locationsin Russia.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Her Majesty's Government is appalled by Russian atrocities in Mariupol, including attacks on schools sheltering civilians and the abduction and deportation of Ukrainians. Putin is resorting to desperate measures as he is not achieving his objectives. Putin and his regime will be held to account.

Uyghur Tribunal

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have been invited to submit evidence to the Uyghur Tribunal; if so, whether they have accepted the invitation; and if not, why not.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: FCDO Ministers and officials engaged extensively with Sir Geoffrey Nice over the last year to discuss the panel's work. This included highlighting extensive relevant open source research on the situation in Xinjiang. The FCDO welcomes the contribution the panel has made to building international awareness and understanding of human rights violations in Xinjiang.

Russia: War Crimes

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to review their policy on genocide, further to Russia's actions in Ukraine and the Prime Minister's remarks during Prime Minister’s Questions on 2 March that President Putin's actions amount to war crimes (HC Deb, col 1037).

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: It is the long-standing policy of the British Government that any determination as to whether genocide has occurred should be made by competent national or international court, after considering all of the available evidence, not non-judicial bodies. This includes international courts, such as the International Criminal Court (ICC), and national criminal courts that meet international standards.Russia's use of indiscriminate force against innocent civilians amounts to war crimes which must be investigated and those responsible must be held to account. It is for the ICC Prosecutor to independently determine who should be prosecuted for war crimes committed in Ukraine, including those that ordered them, in accordance with his mandate under the Rome Statute.

Humanitarian Aid and Refugees: Ukraine

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatdiscussions they have had with European partners about using Europe's railway network to transport refugees and humanitarian goods in response to the war in Ukraine.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We continue to work closely with NGOs and organisations such as the UN who are providing vital support on the ground. The UK is also standing alongside the European Rail family to provide safe and free passage for Ukrainians.UK train operators will provide free onward train travel for Ukrainians on arrival in the UK. Those who have entered the UK will be able to travel for free on the national rail network by showing their Ukrainian passport and a boarding pass or ticket showing arrival into the UK. Many bus and coach operators are also offering free onward travel to final destinations.

Ukraine: British Nationals Abroad

Lord Tyrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the (1) presence, and (2) active participation, of UK citizens in conflict zones in Ukraine; and what advice they provide to UK citizens regarding any potential legal consequences of such presence or participation.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is not supporting British nationals going to Ukraine to fight in the conflict. We advise against travel to Ukraine and anyone who travels to conflict zones to engage in unlawful activity should expect to be investigated upon their return to the UK.

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit: Children

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks byBaroness Scott of Bybrook on 16 March (HL Deb col 277), what measures they are using to evaluate the effects of the two child limit on Universal Credit.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The Government has committed to annual statistics releases related to the operation of the policy to provide support for a maximum of two children. Statistics related to the period up to April 2021 were published in July 2021 and can be accessed at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/universal-credit-and-child-tax-credit-claimants-statistics-related-to-the-policy-to-provide-support-for-a-maximum-of-2-children-april-2021. Previous releases can also be found here. Statistics related to the period up to April 2022 will be published in the summer.

Employment: Refugees

Lord De Mauley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatsteps they are taking to match Ukrainian refugees wishing to come to the UK with job opportunities matching their specific (1) skills, (2) training, and (3) experience.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The Government’s new Ukraine Family Scheme and ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme will help thousands of Ukrainian families and individuals to enter the country. DWP is working closely with the Home Office to understand potential demand. Under these schemes Ukrainian evacuees will have the right to work here from day one, as well as immediate access to the benefit system and our existing employment offer, including our £30 billion Plan for Jobs. Ukrainian evacuees who claim benefits like Universal Credit will have access to direct, personalised employment support from experienced Jobcentre Plus work coaches, who will help them to find and move into employment, with extra support available through DWP’s Flexible Support Fund. Translation services are available to help new arrivals with phone applications, with Work Coaches in DWP Jobcentres on hand to support people making claims online. DWP staff are also delivering additional face-to-face assistance to those who need it – including tailored support to find work and advice on benefit eligibility – and will continue to do so. DWP’s National Employer Partnerships Team (NEPT) has received a number of approaches from employers relating to Ukrainian evacuees. Timeframes are still being finalised and there is regular discussion with Other Government Departments. Refugee Employment Network are also linked into activity and will be involved in sharing opportunities.

P&O Ferries: Staff

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to provide (1) support, and (2) protection, for the staff of P&O Ferries who were made redundant on 17 March.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) stands ready to support anyone affected by this announcement, with our Rapid Response Service (RRS) offer. This is a service designed to give support and advice to employers and their employees when faced with redundancy. The range of support available from Jobcentre Plus and partners may include: Connecting people to jobs in the labour marketInformation, advice and guidanceHelp with job search including CV writing, interview skills, where to find jobs and how to apply for them.Help to assess transferable skills in relation to the local labour market by conducting a Skills Transfer AnalysisVocational training to address skills needsOther RRS funded support to help overcome barriers to getting a job or starting self-employment In addition, DWP is also working closely with the Department for Transport to implement a unique portal on the Aviation Skills Retention Platform (ASRP) for workers affected by the P&O redundancy. The portal has been designed to directly target individuals affected to provide visibility of jobs in aviation and wider transport sectors. The new portal will provide all registered companies with the opportunity to engage with P&O Ferries workers, highlighting opportunities to the group as a whole, rather than individually, and ensure workers can be approached with a range of opportunities that match their skills. Information on other Government programmes on retraining such as Department for Educations Skills Bootcamps and Apprenticeships will also be shared with affected P&O employees.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Fisheries: Monitoring

Lord Randall of Uxbridge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of English vessel fishing activity is currently monitored at sea either with (1) human observers, or (2) Remote Electronic Monitoring.

Lord Benyon: Each UK administration independently runs a scientific at-sea observer programme which typically covers around 1% of total fishing activity. There is currently one English registered vessel with Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) taking part in a pilot trial for testing traceability; three vessels with REM equipment taking part in a scientific programme to collect catch composition data; and four vessels using REM for data collection focused on elasmobranch species which includes sharks, rays and skates. Human observations take place as part of the fisheries data collection framework.

Environmental Land Management Schemes

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering: To ask Her Majesty's Government how any gap in funding betweenbasic farm payments and the new environmental land management schemes will be met.

Lord Benyon: Ahead of the new environmental land management schemes being fully rolled out, between 2021 and 2024 we will help farmers to manage their land sustainably and prepare to take part in our environmental land management schemes. This will include:extensions to Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship;new Countryside Stewardship agreements, available until 2023, with the final round of agreements starting in January 2024;piloting our environmental land management scheme offers;core elements of our Sustainable Farming Incentive – the first in our package of environmental land management schemes - available to all farmers in receipt of BPS from later this year with the first payments due by the end of the year. We have already launched a new Farming in Protected Landscapes programme in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We have also opened a number of productivity and innovation grant opportunities for farmers, and have already awarded grants to the value of more than £48 million.

Avian Influenza

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the threat of bird flu in the UK to (1) poultry health, and (2) egg production.

Lord Benyon: The UK is experiencing the largest outbreak of avian influenza with (as of 23 March 2022) 106 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 confirmed in poultry and other captive birds (86 cases in England, 5 in Wales, 9 in Scotland, 6 in Northern Ireland). In Great Britain, the risk level of HPAI H5 in wild birds remains assessed as very high, owing to continued high numbers of HPAI H5 detections in wild birds, across various species. The risk of poultry exposure to HPAI H5 is assessed as medium (with low uncertainty) where good biosecurity is applied but high where biosecurity is suboptimal. This assessment takes into consideration the Avian Influenza Protection Zone (AIPZ) including housing measures which is currently in force across the UK. In Northern Ireland, the risk of HPAI incursion to domestic poultry is assessed as low if effective biosecurity is in place, increasing to moderate if the biosecurity measures are considered inadequate. The Food Standards Agency has said that, on the basis of the current scientific evidence, AI poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat. Following the introduction of mandatory housing measures on 29 November 2021, there is a 16 week ‘grace period’ during which eggs from birds which were intended to be free-range may be marketed as free-range even though they are housed. This expired at 00:01 on 21 March 2022 and means that in most cases, the eggs from birds temporarily housed for their welfare should be marketed and sold as ‘barn eggs’. While the mandatory housing measure remain in force, changes to egg stamping, labelling and point of sales information are required to reflect this change in status. These measures will ensure consumers are able to make an informed choice. We are very mindful of the need to maintain consumer confidence in the free-range brand long term. The AIPZ requirements, including housing measures, will remain in force until further notice. However, the measure will be kept under regular review as part of the government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of avian influenza. Any decisions on when to lift or amend the AIPZs will be based on risk assessments containing the latest scientific and ornithological evidence and veterinary advice.

Fisheries

Lord Randall of Uxbridge: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their Joint Fisheries Statement will commit to evidence-based fisheries management; and whether they will consultt on the correct (1) scale, and (2) use, of Remote Electronic Monitoring in English fisheries.

Lord Benyon: The Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS) as drafted contains provisions for the UK to continue taking an evidence-based approach to fisheries and aquaculture management, making full use of the best available scientific evidence, and supporting the UK in continuing to meet its international obligations and Fisheries Act 2020 objectives. This will be underpinned by a wide-ranging and coordinated monitoring programme and advisory framework, which will be further enhanced by research. The use of best available evidence and scientific advice, transparent decision making, and partnership working, will be core principles that will underpin delivery of the policies in the JFS. As part of our commitment to delivering a world class fisheries management system Defra is developing a set of proposals for expanding the use of Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) in English waters. We have been engaging with stakeholders to explore their views on different approaches, including on the scale and use of REM, and will test future proposals through public consultation.

Fisheries

Lord Randall of Uxbridge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure a better (1) geographic, and (2) seasonal, distribution of fishing effort.

Lord Benyon: The UK views information on the geographic distribution of fish stocks as fundamental to establishing both the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and a coastal state’s share of a given stock in bilateral, trilateral and multilateral negotiations. This information should form the basis for how catch advice for each biological stock is apportioned across TAC management areas. UK quotas are apportioned between Fisheries Administrations for allocation to their respective fishing industries. The sector, which is made up of Producer Organisations, manage their allocation of quota on behalf of their members in a range of UK and distant water fisheries. The non-sector allocation of quota is managed by the Marine Management Organisation and Marine Scotland, who work closely with industry to balance the need for quota in seasonal and local fisheries.

Fisheries: Exclusive Economic Zone

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by the then Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 20 March 2018 (HC Deb col 176), what progress they have made with the establishment of an exclusive economic zone for UK fishing "that is ours to police and control".

Lord Benyon: The UK formally established its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in 2014. Vessels carrying out commercial fishing in the UK EEZ are regulated by way of a combination of legislative measures and conditions attached to fishing licences, thereby allowing us to control fishing in our waters in a way that was not possible when we were subject to the EU's Common Fisheries Policy.

Home Office

Immigration: Employment

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to end the legal requirement for employers and others to check a person's immigration status; and what guidancethey provide to those responsible for such checks.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: In common with other comparable countries, the UK has in place a framework of laws, policies and administrative arrangements to ensure access to work, benefits and services is only permitted for those who are lawfully present in the UK who have the right to access them.The public expects us to enforce immigration laws approved by Parliament as a matter of fairness to those who abide by the rules and to protect tax-payer funded services.As such, the government has no plans to end the legal requirement for eligibility checks on those accessing work, benefits and services.Specific guidance is available on GOV.UK for those who are responsible for checking a person’s immigration status, such as employers and landlords, including how to undertake checks and avoid discrimination.

Refugees: Afghanistan

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Afghan citizens have been resettled under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme; and what target number, if any, they are aiming for resettlements.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme opened on 6th January, providing up to 20,000 women, children and others at risk with a safe and legal route to resettle in the UK.There are around 6,500 people in the UK who have been brought to safety during and after the evacuation who are eligible for the ACRS through pathway one. The first Afghan families have already been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain under the scheme, and we are continuing to grant Indefinite Leave to the remainder. .Due to the success of our emergency evacuation and the larger than anticipated number of people brought over to the UK, we plan to exceed our initial aim of 5,000 people in the first year of the ACRS.

Migrants: Finance

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many migrants with no recourse to public funds have (1) applied successfully to have this restriction lifted, and (2) had their application refused.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Data on how many migrants on family and human rights routes with no recourse to public funds who have applied successfully to have their restriction lifted and those who have had their application refused is published quarterly as part of the Immigration and Protection Data.The most recent data for Q4 2021 can be accessed from gov.uk, and is attached.Q4 2021 (xlsx, 2388.3KB)

Immigration: Detainees

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many persons were held in immigration detention centres at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic; and how many persons are being held in such centres at present.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Home Office publishes statistics on people entering, leaving and in detention in the 'Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release', which can be found on Gov.uk. The number of people in detention at the end of each quarter can be broken down by place of detention in table Det_D02 of the 'Detention detailed tables' - which is attached. The latest data relate to those in detention at the end of December 2021.Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook.Detention detailed tables (xlsx, 9709.5KB)

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Building Safety Fund

Lord Young of Cookham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the progress of the Building Safety Fund.

Lord Greenhalgh: The Secretary of State for Levelling Up made clear in his building safety statement on 10 January 2022 that the Government is focused on making sure the Building Safety Fund is more risk driven and delivered more quickly to protect leaseholders. The monthly Building Safety Fund statistics on gov.uk at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remediation-of-non-acm-buildings#building-safety-fund-registrations-private-sector-and-social-sector show the progress that is being made with the Fund. Over £1 billion of funding has been allocated and over a thousand buildings are proceeding with a full application to the Building Safety Fund. This means that owners of over 80 thousand homes within high-rise blocks are covered by Building Safety Fund applications and leaseholders and residents can be assured the fire risks caused by the unsafe cladding will be addressed at no cost to them.HL7185 Monthly Building Safety Statistics  (docx, 27.8KB)

Local Government: Harrogate

Lord Stunell: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further tothe abolition of Harrogate Borough Councilon1 April 2023 and the related extension of existing councillors' terms, what plans they have, if any, to legislate to allow electors of Marston Moor Ward at Harrogate Borough Council to vote fora representative aheadof the North Yorkshire Unitary election.

Lord Greenhalgh: We are aware that since the end of January there has been a vacancy in this ward.The North Yorkshire (Structural Changes) Order 2022 cancelled the ordinary elections in May 2022 in Harrogate.My officials are discussing with Harrogate’s officers what the implications are for representation in this ward for Harrogate Borough council.

Homelessness: Undocumented Migrants

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of how many migrants who lack full documentation have become homeless in each of the last two years for which figures are available.

Lord Greenhalgh: As part of the Homelessness Case Level Collection data (H-CLIC), local authorities are required to collect details of the nationality of those they have assessed as homeless. Local authorities are not required through H-CLIC to collect data on the documentation held by non-UK nationals who are homeless and rough sleeping.As part of our annual rough sleeping snapshot, we also collect data on the nationality of those sleeping rough. Latest data reported that 25% of those found to be rough sleeping on a single night in 2021 were non-UK nationals - 20% (500) were from the EU and 5% (110) were non-EU. The nationality of 8% (200) was unknown.

Cabinet Office

Public Sector: Russia

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to allow Russian-owned companies to (1) tender for, or (2) be awarded, contracts for public sector work in the UK.

Lord True: It is of the utmost importance that we explore every possible avenue to ensure British taxpayers’ money isn’t funding Putin’s war machine.Cabinet Office has issued Procurement Policy Note 01/22 which sets out how contracting authorities can further cut ties with companies backed by the states of Russia and Belarus. The guidance applies to all central government departments, their executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies. Other public sector contracting authorities should consider applying the approach set out in this guidance.

Cabinet Office: Disclosure of Information

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Non-Disclosure Agreements the Cabinet Office has agreed for each of the last three years.

Lord True: Under the Cabinet Office issued guidance on the use of confidentiality clauses in the Civil Service, there are certain circumstances where departments are obliged to seek Cabinet Office Ministerial approval before using such clauses in a settlement agreement. This includes where the case meets any of the following criteria:involves a member of the Senior Civil Service;is high visibility or is likely to be contentious;has a proposed payment of £100,00 or more;has a confidentiality clause that deviates from the recommended Cabinet Office wording or;involves allegations of bullying, harassment or discrimination. Since April 2019, under the aforementioned Cabinet Office control, approval has been given for two uses of a confidentiality clause.

Treasury

Cryptocurrencies: Russia

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to identify cryptocurrency exchanges supporting sanctioned Russian individuals and restrict their activities.

Baroness Penn: The use of cryptoassets to circumvent economic sanctions is a criminal offence under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 and regulations made under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018. The government and UK authorities are actively monitoring the use of cryptoassets to detect potential instances of sanctions evasion, and stand ready to act in the event of sanctions breaches. On 11 March HM Treasury, the FCA and the Bank of England issued a statement setting out the expectation that cryptoasset businesses play their part in ensuring that sanctions are complied with. The statement sets out the legal and regulatory requirements on cryptoasset businesses with regard to sanctions, as well as steps that firms can take to reduce the risk of sanctions evasion. The FCA has also written to all registered cryptoasset firms and those holding temporary registration status to highlight the application of sanctions on various Russian entities and individuals.

Care Workers: Visas

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many live-in carers working under a Health and Care Worker visa have been denied payments under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Baroness Penn: HM Revenue & Customs does not hold this information. The rules of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme included employees on any type of employment contract, including full-time, part-time, agency, flexible or zero-hour contracts, providing they met the eligibility criteria. Individuals who employed someone, such as a live-in carer, could claim if they met the eligibility criteria.

Cryptocurrencies: Registration

Lord Cromwell: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Financial Conduct Authority regarding the number of cryptoasset firms that are still awaiting registration by the FCA ahead of the deadline on 31 March.

Lord Cromwell: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to granting a further extension of the Financial Conduct Authority deadline for registration of cryptoasset firms if the FCA is unable to meet its deadline of 31 March.

Lord Cromwell: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the introduction of anti-money laundering regulations for cryptoasset firms, what assessment they have made of the number of firms not yet registered by the FCA; what discussions they have had with the FCA about this; and what steps they are taking to ensure compliance with the regulations.

Baroness Penn: As of 24 March 2022, 16 cryptoasset businesses are within the FCA’s Temporary Registration Regime. The FCA have concluded assessment of all firms and are expecting further updates from some of these firms before their temporary registration ends. All firms remaining on the regime are aware of what is required from them to conclude their application.Treasury officials are in regular contact with their counterparts at the FCA regarding the status of these firms, as well as the anti-money laundering regime for cryptoassets in general. Any decision about whether or not to extend the Temporary Registration Regime beyond 31 March is ultimately a matter for the FCA, exercising their powers under the Money Laundering Regulations.In addition to existing businesses with temporary registration, the FCA is also assessing the applications of new businesses that wish to enter the market, and has admitted a number of these firms to the full register. The FCA are seeking to process all applications as swiftly as is possible whilst maintaining robust regulatory standards. Both Treasury and the FCA are committed to supporting the growth of the cryptoasset sector in a safe and competitive manner.Since 10 January 2021, only cryptoasset businesses that have been admitted to either the Temporary Registration Regime or the FCA’s full register are permitted to carry on business in the UK. The FCA have a range of civil and criminal enforcement powers under the Money Laundering Regulations and, as of this month, have over 50 open investigations, including criminal probes, into apparently unauthorised cryptoasset businesses.

Stocks and Shares: Belarus

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to prohibit providing services in relation to shares of Belarussian state-owned enterprises listed on UK trading exchanges.

Baroness Penn: Provision of investment services in relation to shares issued by Belarusian state-owned entities after 9 August 2021 is a criminal offence under the Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. The Regulations impose sanctions for the purposes of encouraging the Government of Belarus to respect democratic principles and institutions, the separation of powers and the rule of law in Belarus; and refrain from actions, policies or activities which repress civil society in Belarus. In addition, on 1 March we announced a first tranche of sanctions against Belarusian individuals and organisations in response to the role the country is playing in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Lukashenko regime will be made to feel the economic consequences for its support for Putin.

Bank for International Settlements: Central Bank of the Russian Federation

Lord Tyrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatthey consider would constitute the withdrawal of banking services from the Central Bank of Russia by the Bank of International Settlements; what discussions they have had with the Bank of England about the withdrawal; and what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the measures to withdraw such banking services from Russia.

Baroness Penn: The government and Bank of England have cooperated closely in implementing sanctions on Russia and will continue to do so. Decisions over the nature of services provided by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) are a matter for that body and its members. The Bank of England, which is the United Kingdom’s member, has engaged with the BIS on this issue. The BIS has suspended access of the Central Bank of Russia to all BIS services, meetings and other BIS activities. The government is confident that the range of unprecedented measures announced by the international community are having a significant effect on the Russian economy undermining its ability to wage war in Ukraine.

Russia: Overseas Investment

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to prohibit new investment in Russia's energy sector by companies based in the UK.

Baroness Penn: The UK is delivering the largest package of sanctions in our history and have taken unprecedented measures which will isolate the Russian financial system for years to come.Since Russia’s invasion, we have sanctioned more than 1000 individuals, entities, and subsidiaries. This includes some of Russia’s most significant and high-value individuals, including Putin’s political allies and propagandists. Over 3 million Russian companies, including Gazprom, have been barred from raising money on UK capital markets.We are clear that there is no argument for new investment in the Russian economy. The UK will not hesitate in imposing further measures as appropriate; any further sanctions measures will be announced in the House in due course.